Team in Training

Listen. If you’re here reading this because you’re unsure about joining Team in Training (TNT) for whatever reason, just go ahead and pause reading, sign up with them, and then return to find out all the amazing things you’ve just registered for.
Having been a dedicated runner for the past few years now, I decided I wanted to try my hand at becoming a triathlete. I knew of a couple people who had done the NYC Triathlon and swore up and down it was an amazing experience. «Excellent», I said. Now, how the hell do I train for one of these?
The people I knew who did the tri had done so with Team In Training. They sung nothing but praises about the organization, promising that it would be an incredibly memorable experience. I did my research and found that I would have to fundraise a hefty amount (at the time it was $ 2900, this may or may not change for upcoming seasons). In fundraising that amount, you are given all the coaching you can handle in preparation for the tri.
While there were other options such as a JackRabbit training program, or just full on going it on my own like I’ve been doing with just running, I decided to take my friends advice and join the team. I am *SO* glad I did.
TNT was unbelievable from beginning to end. For the 2014 triathlon, we had Scott, Mike, and John as our primary coaches, with several team captains helping them out as well. We met three days a week (one swimming day, one running day, and Saturday mornings for biking/​running). On top of that we would receive detailed weekly training instructions for the days when we trained solo. You are also paired up with a mentor who is there for you whenever you have questions or panic attacks.
By the time the triathlon rolled around, I was more than ready to kick the course’s ass, and kick it I did! I blasted away my anticipated finish time by nearly 20 minutes, and solidified my love for the sport, taking on the title of Triathlete. More importantly, I have made some amazing life long friends out of my teammates. It’s now a month since the triathlon and we’re all still active on the Facebook page. We really did become a family, and many of us are still meeting up for runs and bikes.
Let’s touch on the fundraising. I was really apprehensive about raising such a large sum of money. I was also promised I could do it, and sure enough I was able to meet the minimum. You’re given a recommitment date about halfway through training that allows you to either A. Guarantee you’ll raise the funds, or pay the remaining balance yourself, or B. Back out of the program with no cost to you, but all funds raised go to the organization.
Speaking of the organization, you’ll be raising funds for LLS to fight blood cancers. During training you’ll hear from many of your teammates and special guests about how much their lives changed thanks to the continued research into a cure. What seems like a large sum of money to raise at the beginning becomes completely worth the time and effort in getting there, knowing you’ve possibly saved someone’s life, while participating in a sport you love.
You seriously can’t lose! Join!

Renew your faith humanity. Help kick cancers a** and run a marathon. Seriously. This Org is amazing what are you waiting for?

I joined TNT last summer for the Westchester Tri. I was out of shape, a pack a day smoker and haven’t done any exercise in years. The coaches and the staff there are just great! They’re truly experts of their teachings. For ex., my swimming coach Scott, the guy coaches new swimmers to advanced and switches gears very quickly to accomodate the need of a beginner at different levels. I learn to swim because of this program.
However, I couldn’t go through with the program because of unexpected work responsibilities and raising $ 3500 was quite an issue when the economy was shocked. However, I did hear from those who went through w/​the program and I’m soooo envious of them!
Go TNT!

Team in Training motivated me to run the NYC Half Marathon — an experience and accomplishment that I will always cherish. Even more importantly, however, it gave me the opportunity to learn about Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s mission and hear the stories of cancer survivors. It was truly a moving experience and really marries the concepts of charity, perseverence and personal strength.
Initially I was unsure the program would work. I never ran more than 4 miles before this and I’m a pretty slow runner. But week by week, the program built on my current running levels and, before I knew it, I was running double digit mileage every Saturday morning! The training groups were generally supportive… you can definitely sense that some people are there for social reasons while others are really focused on their running progression. It’s good for both of those purposes and anything in between!
I give TNT credit for (1) teaching me all the loops in Central Park (2) building my endurance and confidence gradually (3) motivating me to raise money for an amazing cause (4) completing the NYC half (5) teaching me how to run in the dead of winter and not dread it!
At the main event, the numerous coaches and TNT supporters who cheer you on at the sight of your purple jersey is also a huge motivator that is really an unspoken perk… really helped me get through the rough patches. I even had a coach run with me in the final mile and give me tips to put my shoulders back and relax. I really recommend this program for everyone and anyone. It’s one of the best things you’ll ever be involved in!

One of the greatest things you can do is give. It doesn’t always have to be money that you give, either.
Team in Training is a program of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society that will train you and guarantee entry into a marathon while you are raising funds to fight blood cancers. Having lost my father to Non-​Hodgkin Lymphoma six years ago, I have a very personal investment in Team in Training. As I write this review, I am in the process of raising $ 2,500 and preparing for the New Jersey, Long Branch Marathon.
You meet twice a week with a supportive and enthusiastic training staff. You are assigned a mentor who runs along with you and helps the process go very smoothly. You can even get help raising money. All the while, you’re making new friends and getting great exercise and feeling like a superhero in general. And if like me, you’ve lost someone close to a blood cancer, you get a little healing too.
I am grateful to them for all the work they’ve been doing. Somehow, I know I won’t be stopping at one marathon.
They have ruined me for the gym, though. But, I can get past that.
If you’ve ever entertained the idea, go ahead and try it out. You won’t regret it. Besides, its a great reason to try whatever fatty, calorie laden deliciousness is popular on Unilocal at the moment. After running 9 miles or so, the guilt just melts away.

How do I express my love/​gratitude/​connection with TNT. Thanks to TNT I was able to honor the memory of my sorority sister who passed away of ovarian cancer while making a difference in other people’s lives and working on my own fitness. The coaches are truly in every aspect — they know what they are talking about and express the importance of every workout you do while still making it clear that you are there for a cause and making a difference in people’s lives. While I fractured my knee training for the first event, everyone was so supportive and helpful when I was finally able to train agan. As a walk/​runner the walk coach Barb was such an asset (and she shakes it like no other). And Ramon, the run coach, there are no words… sure he’ll make fun of you but he’ll challenge you to do your best!
One of the best parts about training with TNT is the inspiring people you will meet. Everyone’s life has been touched by cancer in some way. Each team also has honored teammates — people who you are running in honor of and survivors who run with you.
If you are considering participating in an endurance event I highly recomment training with TNT!

I am IN LOVE with TNT. Thanks to them, I am about to complete the NYC Marathon in honor of my sister and her battle with cancer. I can’t tell you how much fun the training process has been. The coaches are great, the Mentor’s are fabulous, and Ramon is just simply insane… in a GOOD way. I recomment the NYC Chapter… it will be the best decision of your life.

Where do I begin? I am (or should I say was?) a non-athlete…certainly not a regular gym goer. In an attempt to try and get a little more fit, I decided to run a half-​marathon – crazy, I know. But since I know how good I am at making excuses not to do things, I knew I had to find something to commit to. Unfortunately, my friends and their families have been touched by cancer far too often in recent years and running to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research was the perfect fit.
I knew there would be group training which is what I would need to keep myself on track but I had no idea what a great experience it would turn out to be. Awesome coaches – even when the training runs sucked, I still ended up walking away with a smile on my face… Great support for fundraising from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (
) staff, and a great way to make new friends. I swore that after the race, I would never run more than 6 miles again. However, the experience was so great that after running through 13.1 hill infused miles in San Francisco, I am considering a full marathon next year!
I give many, many props to the coaches with Team in Training, the cancer survivors that I trained with, the charitable new friends that I made and the organization as a whole. For anyone who would like to but thinks that you aren’t cut out for a half or full marathon, triathlon, etc… take it from me… you can do it… with a little help from these guys and a lot of fun. And not only do you get a major sense of accomplishment but you give back something to help others too and get to be part of a great organization!